Servant Leadership
  

(from left to right:  Sr. Luke Hoschette, Sr. Judine Suter, 
Sr. Danile Knight, Sr. Jean Gibson, Sr. Stephanie Mongeon)

     At my installation as prioress we sang this song:  "Will you let me be your servant, let me be as Christ to you; Pray that I may have the grace to let you be my servant, too."  As I sang those words I felt strongly that the Spirit was calling me to be a servant leader.  That would be my theme for the next four years.

     In a Benedictine community, the prioress holds the place of Christ for the Sisters.  What did Christ say about leadership?  "I came to serve and not to be served."  He also said to His disciples that "many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first," meaning that true leadership is leadership based on servanthood.  Benedict, I believe, would approve of servant leadership.

     In a civic organization the servant leader wants to enhance the growth of individuals and also to increase teamwork and personal involvement.  This is also true for the prioress in a Benedictine community.  The prioress has a council, unique to each monastery.  Here at Mount Benedict Monastery, we have three appointed members and one elected member.  It is this group that assists the prioress in directing the community.  "Do everything with counsel and you will not be sorry afterward."  RB 3.  The prioress also conducts meetings with the entire community, allowing each Sister to be involved in the planning and decision-making of the community.  There are also committees made up of Sisters from the community who help with community decisions.  The members of the council, to whom I look to for advice in conducting the business of the monastery, are Sister Stephanie Mongeon, Sub-Prioress; Sister Luke Hoschette, Secretary; Sister Jean Gibson, Treasurer; and Sister Judine Suter, Elected Member.

Sister Danile Knight, Prioress
Mount Benedict Monastery